Sponge prophy

ABSTRACT

A dental prophy chip with a hollow core of different shapes such as canopy, cylinder, cup and inverted cone, is covered by hydrophilic grindstone sponge containing a polishing agent and its edge is either pressed fixed or folded into the interior of the core with a latch plate. A shaft is fixed to the latch plate to avoid resonance at bottom surface, during rotation. The device maintains polishing efficiency by avoiding transverse oscillation in polishing barrel-shaped tooth clearance and reducing frictional heat.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to hydrophilic sponge processing, and a cleaning,polishing, and burnishing prophy chip utilizing a hydrophilic sponge.

Generally, conventional dental cleaning is performed with a prophy chip(cup), mounted on a dental instrument, composed of silicon gum with adental polishing gel or paste, or the polishing paste may be directlyapplied to appliances to clean, polish, or burnish the teeth. However,the top of the prophy chip may be twisted or frayed when polishing theembrasure or its adjacent side, and the prophy cup cannot reach thetarget sites.

In addition, polishing gel or paste may escape the oral cavity due torotation when cleaning teeth with the prophy chip composed of silicongum. The supplement of the polishing gel or paste for preventing heatgenerated by friction between the silicon gum and teeth and maintainingpolishing efficiency is required, and this also interrupts theoperation.

To solve these problems, a polishing grindstone sponge requiring nopolishing paste maybe applied, and the drawbacks of the silicon gumduring polishing do not occur.

The invention provides a prophy chip for cleaning, polishing, andburnishing teeth reducing heat generated by friction without requiring apolishing paste.

SUMMARY

A prophy chip is provided, mounted on the top of a dental rotaryinstrument, comprising a hollow cup-shaped core of canopy(semispherical) type, cylindrical type, cup type, cone type, invertedcone type or disk type, covered with a hydrophilic grindstone spongecontaining a polishing agent such as aluminum oxide, silicon carbide,cerium oxide, or pumice, the hydrophilic grindstone sponge side edgeeither being press fixed by folding into the interior of the core with ashank-equipped latch plate or contoured for gripping, a shaft fixed toavoid vibration around the latch plate bottom surface rotation axisduring rotation.

With the prophy chip of the invention, the contact side of the spongewhich lines the core may be deformed to the core shape during cleaningand polishing. For example, the top of the cone-type core reachesembrasures without twisting, and the flexible surface of the spongeprovides even contact and cleaning to the polishing face of the tooth.In another example, the prophy chip of the invention, even with theconventional inflexible silicon gum, still prevents the deformation ofthe top of the core. In practice, the indisposition by the lash of thefriction between the stiff chip and the teeth can be reduced and theteeth cleaning and polishing can be properly operated by the flexiblesponge.

Moreover, the cleaning, polishing, and burnishing can be operated by thehydrophilic sponge of the invention with abundant water, providing moreeffective dissipation of heat generated by friction.

Furthermore, solid agents in the hydrophilic sponge may dissolve and bereleased to the polishing face by centrifugal force, rolling friction,and pressure. Medicaments, polishing agents, or coating agents containedin the sponge may be dissolved and released to the contact face betweenthe tooth and the rotating polishing chip. Sweeteners and fragrances canbe diffused in the oral cavity during cleaning, polishing, andburnishing by a mediator such as saliva, providing refreshment andaromatherapeutic effects.

In particular, the prophy chip of the invention, mounted on the rotarydental instrument, capable of polishing difficult areas such as theembrasure or its adjacent side. In addition, polishing paste is notrequired during the operation, such that interruption of the procedurecaused by the application of polishing paste in conventional operationdoes not occur. The disposition on the surfaces of treated teeth byfriction between the stiff chip and the teeth can be reduced and teethcleaning and polishing can be properly operated using the flexiblesponge immersed in water prior to the operation, reducing heat generatedby friction.

In addition, the hydrophilic sponge of the invention comprises at leastone water soluble agent such as a polishing agent, a foaming agent, amedicament for inhibiting or preventing periodontal diseases or dentalcaries, or a coating agent. These agents can be dissolved and releasedto the surfaces of teeth or the entire oral cavity by water or salivaduring cleaning, polishing, and burnishing for caries prevention, dentalcoating, as well as refreshment and aromatherapeutic effects.

Additionally, the hollow core of the invention may be filled with awater-retaining material, providing dissipation of heat generated byfriction, also prolonging the effect of the medicaments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood and further advantages becomeapparent when reference is made to the following description and theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a spherical sponge prophy in one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a cylindrical sponge prophy in anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a conical sponge prophy in anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the spherical sponge prophy contacting asurface of a tooth and the hydrophilic grindstone sponge deformingaccordingly.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the cylindrical sponge prophy contacting aneck of a tooth and the hydrophilic grindstone sponge deformingaccordingly.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the conical sponge prophy contacting anembrasure and the hydrophilic grindstone sponge deforming accordingly.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a sponge prophy in an embodiment of theinvention, showing a plurality of pores in the sponge prophytransferring agents therethrough.

FIG. 8 is a lateral view of a dental rotary instrument equipped with asponge prophy in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section of a sponge prophy in another embodiment ofthe invention.

SYMBOL LEGENDS

1˜core; 2˜hydrophilic grindstone sponge; 3˜latch plate; 4˜axis;5˜connection of axis and dental rotary instrument; 6˜tooth (teeth);7˜hydrophilic grindstone sponge deformed by pressing; 8˜pore; 10˜grip ofthe body of the dental rotary instrument; 11˜head of the dental rotaryinstrument; 12˜switch of the dental rotary instrument; and 13˜spongeprophy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Practical embodiments of the invention are described herein inaccordance with the figures.

FIGS. 1˜3 show embodiments of the invention, wherein like symbolsindicate identical elements, showing basic components of the dentalrotary instrument (or prophy sponge), with elements the same as theconventional dental rotary instruments omitted. The invention featuresreplacement of the conventional chip composed of silicon gum with ahydrophilic grindstone sponge, as shown in FIG. 1.

The processing of these figures is further illustrated below.

The sponge prophy as shown in FIGS. 1˜3 is mounted on the dental rotaryinstrument as shown in FIG. 8. The hydrophilic sponge can be hydrophiliclatex sponge, or polyurethane sponge, and the hydrophilic latex spongeor the hydrophilic polyurethane sponge comprises a grindstone ofCa₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ or Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆F₂ as a wet grindstone sponge. The core 1comprises an exterior wall 1 a and a hollow interior region 1 b. Theoutside of the core is nonwoven to maintain the grindstone and hashydrophilicity and flexibility. The outside of the sponge covering thecore is a three-dimensionally continuous, porous film conducting asolution immersing in a flexible polishing agent. Sponge prophy 13contacts the surface of the tooth, and the switch 12 of the dentalrotary instrument is turned on. Sponge prophy 13 is immersed in waterprior to the operation and agents such as various medicaments,sweeteners, fragrances, dental coatings are dissolved on the contactsurfaces between the teeth and the operating polishing chip, providingprevention periodontal diseases and dental caries, aromatherapy andrefreshment effects, efficiency of cleaning, polishing, and burnishing,and inhibition of heat generated by friction.

In the embodiment of cleaning the surface of a tooth, the sphericalsponge prophy as shown in FIG. 1 is applied to cleaning concaves such asthe facies labialis dentis and the tongue side fossa as shown in FIG. 4.In the embodiment cleaning the neck of a tooth, the cup-shaped corecovered with a hydrophilic sponge as the sponge prophy shown in FIG. 2is applied to the curved surface of the neck of a tooth without damagingthe gums as shown in FIG. 5, in which the teeth contact surface of core1 is curved. The effect of this embodiment is similar to that of theconventional cup-shaped prophy chip. In the embodiment cleaningembrasures between the teeth, the conical sponge prophy as shown in FIG.3 is applied to confining sites such as the embrasures between teeth asshown in FIG. 6, in which core 1 has a conical top suitable for theembrasures. This embodiment prevents chopping of the sharpened and thintop of the conventional silicon gum.

In addition, the hollow portion of core 1 as shown in FIG. 7 can befilled with agents such as various medicaments, a sweetener, afragrance, or a coating agent. Hydrophilic grindstone sponge 2 isimmersed in water prior to the operation, and the agents can bedissolved and released through pores 8 to the surface of hydrophilicgrindstone sponge 2, providing various medical or aromatherapeuticeffects. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the hollow portion of core 1is filled with a water-retaining material 14, providing dissipation ofheat generated by friction, and prolonging the effect of the foamingagent, the sweetener, the fragrance, the medicament for preventingperiodontal diseases and dental caries, or the coating agent since theamount of these agents is increased.

It is to be noted that the shapes of the sponge prophy or latch plate 3,or the fixation are not confined by the illustrated examples. While theinvention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto. All shapes of the core other than those shown in FIGS. 1˜3 areapplicable.

1. A dental cleaning device, comprising: a rotary dental instrumentcomprising a switch; and a prophy chip comprising: a cup-shaped corewith semispherical canopy, cylindrical, cupped, conical, invertedconical, or disk profile, the core comprising an exterior wall and ahollow interior region; a shaft containing a connecting means forconnecting the prophy chip to the dental rotary instrument to avoidvibration around a rotation axis of the core during rotation; ahydrophilic grindstone sponge covering the exterior wall of the core,wherein the hydrophilic grindstone sponge comprises a grindstonetherein; and a latch plate fixing the hydrophilic grindstone sponge tothe core; wherein the prophy chip is mounted on a top of the dentalrotary instrument for cleaning, polishing, and burnishing teeth, and thehydrophilic grindstone sponge is immersed in water prior to operation orabsorbed saliva during operation without using a polishing paste todissipate heat generated by friction, and wherein the switch isconfigured to activate the dental rotary instrument to drive rotation ofthe prophy chip.
 2. The dental cleaning device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the hydrophilic grindstone sponge is hydrophilic latex sponge,or polyurethane sponge, and the hydrophilic latex sponge or thehydrophilic polyurethane sponge comprises a grindstone ofCa₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ or Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆F₂ as a wet grindstone sponge covering thecore.
 3. The dental cleaning device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, whereinthe hydrophilic grindstone sponge further comprises at least one watersoluble agent consisting of a foaming agent, a sweetener, a fragrance, amedicament for inhibiting or preventing periodontal diseases or dentalcaries, or a coating agent.
 4. The dental cleaning device as claimed inclaims 1 or 2, wherein the exterior wall of the core is reticular orporous and at least one water soluble agent consisting of a foamingagent, a sweetener, a fragrance, a medicament for inhibiting orpreventing periodontal diseases or dental caries is disposed in a hollowinterior region of the core.
 5. The dental cleaning device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein an outside of the core is nonwoven to maintain thehydrophilic grindstone sponge and has hydrophilicity and flexibility. 6.The dental cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outside ofthe hydrophilic grindstone sponge covering the core is athree-dimensionally continuous, porous film for conducting a solutionfrom a flexible polishing agent.
 7. The dental cleaning device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a coating agent is disposed in the hollowinterior region of the core.
 8. The dental cleaning device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the core is filled with a water-retaining materialimmersed in a water soluble agent, wherein the water soluble agent isreleasable from a surface of the hydrophilic grindstone sponge coveringthe core.
 9. The dental cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe hydrophilic grindstone sponge is folded over an edge of the wallinto the hollow interior region of the core and gripped by the latchplate.
 10. The dental cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecore is directly connected to the shaft.